The use of condoms as a strategy for lowering risk of HIV
transmission in anal intercourse has been controversial, principally
because of the apparent failure rates of condoms.2 The fact that
almost all reports stress the effectiveness of condoms as a way of
reducing, but not necessarily eliminating, the risk of HIV exposure
and transmission suggests that the wide adoption of consistent
condom usage during anal intercourse would substantially reduce, if
not almost eliminate, HIV transmission in this population. For this
reason, many AIDS education programs have concentrated on promoting condom usage, especially among homosexually active men.

To date, most safer sex campaigns for homosexually active
males have concentrated on emphasizing the importance of condoms
to avoid HIV infection or transmission, as well as introducing
condom usage as a new behavior. Traditionally, in NZ and SA
condoms were only sold by pharmacies. Greater accessibility to
condoms has occurred in both countries with condoms becoming
more readily available.3 Whether even greater accessibility is
required to improve condom usage further or the current
accessibility is sufficient to allow easy access to condoms is an
important question to consider.

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